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Be Kind. Do Good. Love is a Verb.

Monday, April 11, 2016

Undaunted Hope...Review

About the book:Tessa Taylor arrives in 1870s Upper Peninsula, Michigan, planning to serve as a new teacher to the town. Much to her dismay, however, she immediately learns that there was a mistake, that the town had requested a male teacher. Percival Updegraff, superintendent and chief mine clerk, says she can stay through winter since they won't be able to locate a new teacher before then, and Tessa can't help but say she is in his debt. Little does she know that Percival will indeed keep track of all that she owes him.Determined to become indispensable, Tessa throws herself into teaching, and soon the children of the widowed lighthouse keeper have decided she's the right match for their grieving father. Their uncle and assistant light keeper, Alex Bjorklund, has his own feelings for Tessa. As the two brothers begin competing for her hand, Tessa increasingly feels that someone is tracking her every move, and she may not be able to escape the trap that has been laid for her.

Leaving her family's lighthouse because she has compromised her reputation, Tessa wants nothing more than to have a fresh start. Taking the job of school teacher in northern Michigan mining community, she learns that women teachers are frowned upon by the local authority who has the town beaten down and afraid of their own shadows.

Determined to be the best teacher she can, Tessa finds that she loves teaching and she loves this community. I did too. Ingrid and Gunnar were adorable. Alex and his brother Michael were fantastic and their relationship dynamic as Alex tried to help Michael move beyond his grief. And Samuel was such a sweetheart. Percival was the creep of creeps. Jody creates such terrific characters and every single one adds depth to the story.

Third in the Beacons of Hope series, the story stands alone, but does pick up after Hearts Made Whole because Tessa is Caroline's sister. It is all the richer for having read the previous books.

Thanks to Bethany House and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Jody Hedlund here. You can purchase your own copy here.

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